OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is the common language an EV charger uses to talk to the software that manages it: it reports that a car has plugged in, how many kWh it delivered and whether there is a fault, and it receives commands such as starting a session or lowering power. It is maintained by the Open Charge Alliance, and since 2024 its version 2.0.1 has been the international standard IEC 63584.
In Chile, the SEC's technical standard RIC No. 15 requires every public charger to report its status, energy delivered, power and errors «through the communication protocol OCPP 1.6 or higher». For a company or fleet that wants to bill, control and share charging between several units, management software and OCPP are the foundation.
View the data as a table
| Maximum latency to report a change | 3 min |
| Deadline to integrate a new charger | 30 days |
| Public charging integrated into the platform | 80% |
What OCPP is and which versions exist
OCPP connects two pieces: the charger and the charging station management system (CSMS), usually in the cloud. Because it is open, a charger from one brand can work with another company's software, and the owner can change software provider without replacing the hardware, as long as both are certified on the same version.
| Version | Year | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| OCPP 1.6 | 2015 | SOAP and JSON variants; smart charging with charging profiles and load balancing; local user lists |
| OCPP 2.0 | 2018 | First version of the new generation, later replaced by 2.0.1 |
| OCPP 2.0.1 | 2020 | Device management, better transactions, more security, ISO 15118 support and display messages; IEC 63584 standard since 2024 |
| OCPP 2.1 | 2025 | Bidirectional charging (V2X) with ISO 15118-20, distributed energy resource control, local cost calculation, card payment and dynamic QR codes |
Source: Open Charge Alliance, checked on 10 November 2026. Version 1.6 is still the most widely used in installed equipment; 2.0.1 and 2.1 are the ones to ask for in new purchases, especially if bidirectional charging is on the horizon.
| OCPP | Charger and management software | Start and stop sessions, meter kWh, limit power | 1.6 or higher, mandatory for public charging (RIC No. 15) |
| OCPI 2.2.1 | Operator, service providers and SEC | Publish sites, status and rates; roaming | Mandatory to report to the SEC platform |
| ISO 15118 | Car and charger | Plug and Charge and bidirectional charging | Supported by OCPP 2.0.1 and 2.1 |
| PLC / PWM | Car and charger | Pilot control: low- and high-level signalling | Defined in RIC No. 15 |
How charger management software works
Charger management software does four jobs. First, it controls access: it decides who can charge, with an RFID card, an app or a QR code. Second, it meters and logs each session, with the kWh and times the charger sends over OCPP. Third, it bills: it applies a rate and invoices the user or splits the cost between cost centres. Fourth, it manages power: it limits or shares the available kW among the connected cars.
| Function | What it does | Example in a company or fleet |
|---|---|---|
| Access control | Authorises users by RFID, app or QR | Only fleet vehicles charge at night; by day, visitors pay |
| Metering | Logs kWh, start and end of each session | Knowing how much each van uses |
| Billing and rates | Applies a price per kWh, per minute or a fixed fee | Charging staff who top up their own cars |
| Power management | Limits and shares kW between chargers | Not exceeding the contracted capacity of the connection |
| Monitoring | Fault alerts and real-time status | Maintenance before a bus leaves uncharged |
| Reporting | Energy, cost and emissions reports | Accounting and sustainability reports |
Source: Energía Futura, based on the OCPP functions described by the Open Charge Alliance and offers published by suppliers in Chile. The state of the public network these platforms report to is laid out in our report on EV charging stations in Chile 2026.
How to share charging between chargers: power management
This is the function that saves the most money. If a company installs ten 22 kW chargers, without management it would need 220 kW of capacity. With a load management system (SGC), RIC No. 15 allows a private installation to be sized with a demand factor of 0.5 to 1 in the 10 to 120 kW band, and 0.3 to 1 from 120 kW. With a factor of 0.5, the installed power declared falls to 110 kW.
Technically, the software uses OCPP charging profiles (available since version 1.6) to tell each charger how many amps it may deliver at any moment. RIC No. 15 distinguishes two systems: the SGC, which lowers power according to the capacity of the chargers' switchboard, and the SPA, which does so according to the capacity of the main service entrance when there are several connections. In buildings, the standard requires charger power to be manageable remotely by both, as explained in our guide to EV chargers in condominiums and apartment buildings.
- Even split: available power is divided among the connected cars.
- By priority: vehicles leaving first or with less battery get more power.
- By schedule: more charging at the hours of lowest price or lowest building demand.
- With connection metering: a meter at the service entrance reports in real time how much power is left, as home load managers do.
How to bill charging: rates and payment methods
In public charging, the SEC sets how prices are reported. Under its Interoperability Instruction, updated by Exempt Resolution 41,458 and published in the Official Gazette on 23 September 2026, the service provider must label each charge as «Fixed Fee» (CLP), «Energy» (kWh), «Time of Use» (minute) or «Power» (kW), in Chilean pesos, and may set a minimum or maximum price.
In the public charger registry, checked on 10 November 2026, billing by energy dominates: it appears on 1,486 connectors, against 129 with a fixed fee (almost all at CLP 0) and only 2 with per-minute billing. Another 840 connectors report no rate. The instruction also requires at least one payment method at a public charger to be cash, debit or a web portal, with no need for the user to register or have a prior agreement.
| Price component | Unit | Connectors with that component (Nov 2026) | When it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | CLP per kWh | 1,486 | The most common and the easiest to compare |
| Fixed fee | CLP per session | 129 (almost all at CLP 0) | Covering transaction costs |
| Time of use | CLP per minute | 2 | Discouraging cars from blocking the charger |
| Power | CLP per kW | 0 | Billing by contracted power |
Source: public charger registry (SEC and Ministry of Energy), 10 November 2026; Energía Futura calculation. In private charging at a company, billing is free: the kWh can be charged at cost to staff, allocated to each cost centre or included in a charging-as-a-service contract.
Does your company develop charging software or manage chargers for fleets? Reach Energía Futura's readers.
See advertising formatsOCPP in Chile: what the SEC requires from operators
If the chargers are publicly accessible, besides talking OCPP to its software the operator must connect to the SEC's Interoperability Platform, which has been running since 17 November 2024. That link does not use OCPP but OCPI 2.2.1 (Open Charge Point Interface), the protocol for exchanging sites, statuses and rates between operators and platforms. The cargadorespublicos.cl map and the EcoCarga app are fed by that platform.
| Obligation under the SEC instruction | Deadline or detail |
|---|---|
| Report each status change of a charger or connector | Maximum latency of 3 minutes |
| Integrate a new public charger into the platform | 30 calendar days from energisation |
| Update data after amending the TE6 | 15 calendar days |
| Report each connector's available power | If a charger has simultaneous connectors |
| Availability measurement for each connector | From 1 January 2027; no minimum required in the first two years |
| Report of energy delivered (kWh) | From 1 January 2027, by region and charging type; the first one covering 2026 |
Source: SEC, updated Interoperability Instruction (2026), sections 9 and 10. According to the SEC's National Report, about 80% of public infrastructure and 90% of fast and ultra-fast charging were already integrated into the platform.
- 2015OCPP 1.6Adds smart charging with charging profiles and JSON.
- 2020OCPP 2.0.1Device management, more security and ISO 15118 support.
- 2024IEC 63584 and RIC No. 15OCPP 2.0.1 becomes an IEC standard; in Chile, RIC No. 15 requires OCPP 1.6 or higher for public charging.
- 17 November 2024SEC Interoperability PlatformOperators report status and prices via an OCPI 2.2.1 API.
- 2025OCPP 2.1Bidirectional charging (V2X), distributed energy control and card payment.
- 23 September 2026Updated instructionSEC Exempt Resolution 41,458.
- 1 January 2027Availability and energyThe SEC starts measuring each connector's availability and operators report the kWh delivered.
How to choose charger management software
In Chile, several companies offer management software with their chargers or on its own: Enerlink sells charge management software and charging as a service; ElectroChile offers management, control and billing software at no cost to its clients; CHASS handles booking, payment and tracking from its app; and Copec Voltex bills building users through the Copec app. The full list is in our guide to EV charger companies in Chile.
- Certified OCPP version: ask for the Open Charge Alliance certificate for the chargers and the software, ideally 2.0.1.
- Portability: confirm the chargers can be reconfigured to another platform if you change supplier.
- Power management: it should support charging profiles and connection metering.
- SEC integration: if charging is public, the supplier should already be integrated with the platform via OCPI.
- Pricing model: price per charger, per session or a share of revenue, and who issues the receipts.
- Data: access to session logs and exports for accounting and emissions reporting.
Frequently asked questions
What is OCPP?
It is the Open Charge Point Protocol, an open protocol chargers use to communicate with their management software. It is maintained by the Open Charge Alliance and its version 2.0.1 is standard IEC 63584.
Is OCPP mandatory in Chile?
Yes, for public charging: RIC No. 15 requires OCPP 1.6 or higher. It is not mandatory for private charging, but it lets you change software without replacing hardware.
What is the difference between OCPP and OCPI?
OCPP connects the charger with its software; OCPI connects platforms with each other, for example an operator with the SEC or with third-party apps. In Chile the SEC uses OCPI 2.2.1.
How is power shared between several chargers?
With a load management system that uses OCPP charging profiles to cap each unit's amps so the connection's capacity is not exceeded.
How is public charging billed?
By energy, time, fixed fee or power, in pesos. In November 2026, 1,486 public connectors billed per kWh and only 2 per minute.
What changes in 2027?
From 1 January 2027 the SEC measures the availability of every public connector and operators must report the kWh they deliver.
